Cleaning device for deep fat cooker

ABSTRACT

Means for filtering the liquid cooking medium and for cleaning the pot of a deep fat pressure cooker include means for pumping filtered cooking medium from the filter means and returning the filtered cooking medium under pressure to the pot with spray means within the pot directing the filtered cooking medium under pressure in a stream across the inner surface of the pot, washing cooked food particles impinging thereon away for further filtering.

United States Patent 11 1 Wilson et al.

Jan. 2, 1973 CLEANING DEVICE FOR DEEP FAT COOKER Inventors: Robert G.Wilson, 165 Paris Circle; Raymond W. Rogers, 4l4 Potomac Ave., both ofGreenville, S.C. 29605 Filed: April 26, 1971 Appl. No.: 137,225

US. Cl ..99/408, 2l0/DIG. 8 Int. Cl. ..A47j 37/12 Field of Search..99/408, 403-407;

2l0/DlG. 8

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 1971 Lecrone ..99 4os X Martin"997408 x I Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Bailey and Dority[5 7] ABSTRACT Means for filtering the liquid cooking medium and forcleaning the pot of a deep fat pressure cooker include means for pumpingfiltered cooking medium from the filter means and returning the filteredcooking medium under pressure to the pot with spray means within the potdirecting the filtered cooking medium under pressure in a stream acrossthe inner surface of the pot, washing cooked food particles impingingthereon away for further filtering.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN I975 sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT G.WIL5ON E. BY RAYMOND W. ROGERS ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDJAR 2192s SHEET 2 OF 2 RECEPTICAL FOR PUMP Moron La T TINVENTOR.

ROBERT G. WILSON & BY RAYMOND W. ROGERS ATTORNEYS.

CLEANING DEVICE FOR DEEP FAT COOKER This invention relates to afiltering and cleaning means for use with a deef fat fryer and the like,wherein filtered cooking medium is sprayed under pressure about theinterior walls of the pot for washing away cooked food particles.

On some deep fat pressure cookers presently on the market liquid cookingmedium is discharged through the bottom of the pot into a filteringsystem from which it is pumped back into the pot through thesame'opening in the bottom of the pot through which it was firstdischarged. Other systems simply employ a filter from which the filteredliquid cooking medium is returned by pumping same to the pot, such asthat illustrated in US. Letters Pat. No. Re. 26,672, issued Sept. 30,1969, of which this is an improvement. None of these systems makeprovision for using the cooking medium to wash cooked food particles outof the pot. Further cooking of these food particles is injurious to theflavor of edibles cooked in the cooking medium containing them.

Accordingly it is an important object of this invention to thoroughlyclean the liquid cooking medium which is to be employed in the deep fatfrying of edibles especially, in a pressure cooker.

Another important object of the invention is the removal of foodparticles from the pot of a deep fat cooker using liquid cooking mediumfor this purpose.

Still another important object of this invention is to preserve thecooking qualities of liquid cooking medium employed in deep fat cookingthereby improving the flavor of edibles cooked therein so that theliquid cooking medium may be used repeatedly for an extended period oftime.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a deep fat pressure cookerembodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic hydraulic diagram illustrating the varioushydraulic components of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical diagram illustrating some of theelectrical components employed in the cooker of FIG. 1.

The drawings illustrate a deep fat fryer and the like, containing aliquid cooking medium M within a pot, the pot having a vertical wall anda passageway adjacent a bottom with valve means for opening and closingthe passageway. Electrical means is provided for heating the liquidcooking medium within the pot. Means for filtering the liquid cookingmedium and for cleaning the passageway for further filtering of suchcooking medium.

The deep fat fryer illustrated herein is generally very similar to thedeep fat pressure cooker described in the aforesaid patent so that someof the parts have been omitted herein, and a detailed description ofcertain of the parts shown will be omitted for purposes of clarity indescribing the subject matter of the present invention. The deep fatpressure cooker includes a rectangular housing which carries a vessel orpot 11 in an upper surface 12 thereof. The vessel is provided with ahinged cover 13 which has latching means 14 for securing the cover orlid 13 over the top of the pot by engaging a lug 15 carried adjacent thetop of the pot. It should be observed that the pot 11 has a rim 11acarried at the top thereof, and a lower portion of 11b of enlargeddiameter. An inwardly extending lip 11c joins the rim 11a and theenlarged bottom portion 11b. Electhe pot include filter means A forreceiving the liquid washing cooked food particles impinging thereoninto trical heating means in the form of coils illustrated schematicallyat 16 in FIG. 3, are positioned in the lower portion 11b of the pot. Thepot has an open passageway 17 in the lower portion thereof through whichliquid cleaning medium is discharged by gravity into the filter means Awhen the valve 18 is in open position as a result of turning the handle19.

The filter means A includes an open topped receptacle 20 together with afilter medium 21 carried in space relation to the bottom of thereceptacle 20 as by a suitable peripheral support 22.

Means B for pumping filtered cooking medium from the filter meansincludes a motor 23 which drives a pump 24 for pumping liquid cookingmedium through the line 25 from the filter means A. The line 25 has aportion 25a which extends beneath the filter medium 21. It will be notedthat the peripheral support 22 may be imperforate to assure that all ofthe liquid cooking medium picked up through the line 25 has beenfiltered. The filtered cooking medium is returned through the line 26under pressure generated by the pump to the pot. Spray means C includesa portion of the line 26 which is bent at right angles to spray liquidcooking medium tangentially to the inner wall 11d of the pot. The meansreturning the filtered cooking medium includes the line 26 into which isinterposed valve 27 for initiating the flow through the spray means Dwhen the handle 28 is turned to open the valve. The means forconcentrating a spray in the form of a nozzle-like member D is connectedto the means returning the cooking medium and discharges same in atangential path directly to an inner surface of the pot under pressurein a stream washing away cooked food particles impinging thereon, intothe passageway 17 for further filtering of the liquid cooking medium.

The drawings also illustrate the female portion 29 of a quick connectcoupling which is interposed in the line 26. The male portion of thecoupling is illustrated at 30 in FIG. 1 and serves to connect the line31 which carries a nozzle 32 to the pump when the valve 27 is closed. Itis thus possible to manually spray the filtered cooking medium into thepot for the purpose of washing away the cooked food particles. It willalso be observed that disconnect means are provided at 33 and 34 in thelines 26 and 25, respectively, so that the motor and pump, as well asthe filter means A may be removed for cleaning purposes. These lastmentioned elements are carried on a wheeled chassis 35 for conveniencein operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a 230 volt 2, while one phase system employing linesL1 and L2 across which various electrical components are connected. Areceptacle for the pump motor 23 is illustrated at 36 and is connectedacross the line through the circuit breaker 37. A thermostat having itsbulb (not shown) in the pot is illustrated at 38 and its contacts 38aoperate a relay 39 for controlling relay contacts 39a for controllingthe heating elements 16. A timer T has contacts 40 which control asolenoid S for relieving the pressure within the pot upon completion ofa cooking cycle through mechanism not shown. v

lt-is thus observed that the spray means D employs filtered cookingmedium for washing the pot by discharging same tangentially to the innersurface of the pot. The pot has an inwardly extending lip which confinesand directs the stream ofliquid cleaning medium thus discharged to thelower portion of the pot so as to confine the stream within the pot. Therim or upper surface carried by the inwardly extending lip serves inconnection to seal the cover so as to seal the contents of the potmaking possible a build-up in pressure therein during cooking.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A deep fat fryer and the like containing a liquid cooking mediumwithin a pot, said pot having a vertical wall and a' passageway adjacenta bottom, and electrical means for heating said liquid cooking medium,means for filtering said liquid cooking medium and for cleaning said potcomprising: filter means for receiving said liquid cooking medium forfiltering same; means for pumping cooking medium from said pot; meansfor returning filtered cooking medium under pressure to said pot; andmeans for concentrating a spray connected to said means returning saidfiltered cooking medium within said pot of said filtered cooking mediumunder pressure directly in a stream across an inner surface of said walladjacent an upper portion thereof washing cooked food particlesimpinging on all inner wall surfaces of said pot carrying cooked foodparticles into the passageway for further filtering of such cookingmedium prior to again supplying said pot witlbfiltered cooking medium.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertical wall isround and has an inwardly extending lip carried by an upper portionthereof, means fixing the spray means below said lip confining saidstream within the pot.

1. A deep fat fryer and the like containing a liquid cooking mediumwithin a pot, said pot having a vertical wall and a passageway adjacenta bottom, and electrical means for heating said liquid cooking medium,means for filtering said liquid cooking medium and for cleaning said potcomprising: filter means for receiving said liquid cooking medium forfiltering same; means for pumping cooking medium from said pot; meansfor returning filtered cooking medium under pressure to said pot; andmeans for concentrating a spray connected to said means returning saidfiltered cooking medium within said pot of said filtered cooking mediumunder pressure directly in a stream across an inner surface of said walladjacent an upper portion thereof washing cooked food particlesimpinging on all inner wall surfaces of said pot carrying cooked foodparticles into the passageway for further filtering of such cookingmedium prior to again supplying said pot with filtered cooking medium.2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertical wall isround and has an inwardly extending lip carried by an upper portionthereof, means fixing the spray means below said lip confining saidstream within the pot.